Liquid gravitometer



June 8, 1943- G. s. BlNcKLEY LIQUID GRAVITOMETER Filed Aug. 4, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EY.

June 8, 1943. G. s. BlNcKLi-:Y

LIQUID GRAVITQMETER Fil-ed Aug. 4, 1940 2v Sheets-Sheet 2 mvENToR;

BYl

ATTORN EY.

Patented June 8, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT orrics 8 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to improvements in liquid gravitometers.

An object of this invention is to provide means through which thespecific gravity of a, continuously flowing sample of liquid may beindicated vmeans through which the action of the instrument inindicating or recording the specific gravity of a continuously flowingsample may be employed to control the specific gravity of the liquid inquestion or to exercise control over processes which depend for theircorrect functioning upon the specific gravity of the liquid involved.

Another object of this invention is to provide means through whichchanges in the temperature of the continuously flowing sample of liquidare automatically compensated so that the indication or record as madeshall be the specific gravity ofthe liquid as of a standardtemperature-say 60 F.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description thereofproceeds.

The invention comprises a liquid gravitometer which is simple ofconstruction, inexpensive in cost of manufacture, and generally superiorto gravitometers now known to the inventor, in that it is fool-proof andcapable of working over along duration. of time without the attention ofan attendant.

With the above named objects and others in view, the invention consistsin the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association,and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as depictedin a certain embodiment in the accompanying drawings, describedgenerally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the instru.- mentalities enteringinto the construction of the liquid gravitometer, with certain partsbroken away and in section,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure l, and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.Referring now to the drawings, the improved liquid gravitometer includesa baseV I having mounted thereon a pedestal or standard 2 as by means 3.A cross piece 4 is secured-to the top of the pedestal or standard bymeans 5, and this cross piece has secured thereto and dependingtherefrom a knife-edged member '6. The knifeedged member is adaptedY tosupport a beam 1, the bearing 8 of said beam resting upon the knife edge9 of the member S. This provides the fulcrum for the beam. One end ofthe beam is provided with a bearing It. A knife-edged member II has theknife edge thereof supported by the bearing I0 and the member II in turnis swingingly secured by lmeans I3' to across head carrying a pair ofsuspension links I2. A screw cap I4 hasthe threads thereof in engagementwith the threads of a tting I5. The fitting I5 in turn is threaded to anannular nutl, the nui-,being fastened by welding or otherwise to a bulbIl. In the present instance, the bulb is in the form of a hollow ballwith the links. I2 diametrically loosely pinned to the ball.

Diametrically opposite the fitting' I5 and secured to the wall of thebulb is a further fiting I3 provided with a screw cap I9. Access to theinterior of the bulb may be effected-by removing the cap I9. Dependingfrom the fitting I5 and diametrically disposed within the bulb 'is atube 20. The lower end of said tube is spaced slightly above the shankof the cap I9 so as to permit fluid ingress. The opposite end of thetube has egress in the space 2I of the fitting I5. The fitting I5 isprovided with one or more transverse bores 22 which communicate with theupper portion of the bulb I'I and with the spacezZI. The beam 'I carriesan adjustable weight 23 for the purpose of counter-balancing the weightof the bulb and its fittings.

A block 24 is secured to the base I in any appropriate manner, such asby the means 25 and said block is provided with through transverse ports'26' and 2IA and a blind transverse port 28. The wall bounding thetransverse ports aforesaid is enlarged in diameter at 29, andsaidenlarged diameter portions are adapted to receive ends of tubes 30,3I and 32. The opposite end of the tube 3| is anchored within a bore offitting 34, the said fitting being secured to the bulb I7, so that thetube has communication with the interior of said bulb. The tube 32 isreversibly curved at 35, and isanchored within a bore 36 of fitting I5so that Vthe end of the tube has communication with the'space 2| ofthefitting Y Screw-threaded connectors, designated generally as 31, arereceivedin threaded-openings of ,with the arm 53.

' arm is keyed to the shaft 60.

. ply, the specic gravity of which is to be recorded. The tube 32 is incommunication with port 38, which is at right angles to port 28 in block24 to form therewith an elbow-shaped passage, and the wall of the blockconcentric with the port 38 is threaded to receive a tting 39. Thistting is adapted to have secured thereto in any appropriate manner atube 40. This tube has the opposite end thereof communicating with theinterior of a thermostat casing 4I. The tube 30 also has communicationwith the interior of the same casing 4I (see Figure 3). The thermostatand its casing are supported by member 42, the member 42 being movablyor slidably fastened to the base I. Within the casing 4I is tube 43. Oneend of the tube is internally threaded at 44, and closed by means of acap nut 45. The opposite end of the tube is provided with an enlargedhead 46, which is shouldered and screw-threaded at 41,- whereby saidtube may be threaded within an opening 48 of the casing 4I. The headis'formed with a bore, which may be bushed or otherwise constructed soas to provide a bearing for a short shaft 49. This shaft has an endreceived within the tube 43, which end has fastened thereto one end of athermostat coil 50. This coil may be formed of bi-metal material, suchas brass with an overlay of Invar metal. The opposite end of the coilis' fastened to a short stud 5I carried by a screw cap 45. Secured tothe outer end of the shaft 49 so as to be rotated upon a turning of saidshaft is a lever 52. This lever includes a short arm 53 having anenlarged end 54 adapted to be carried on the shaft 49 and locked to saidshaft by means 55. The arm 53 directly communicates with a part 56 atright angles thereto and the part 56 in turn is connected to part 51which is substantially parallel The reason for providing a lever havinga returnedly bent and spaced end portion will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

Secured to the member 4 is an arm 58, the end of which is provided witha bearing 59 adapted to house a short shaft 60. YSecured to the shaft islever 6I and this lever in turn has secured thereto a floating lever 62as by pivot means 63. A link 64 provided with pinned adjustable slideblocks 65 and 66 is interposed between the counter-balance beam and thefloating lever. l

A link 61 provided with pinned adJustable slide blocks 68 and 69 isinterposed between the floating lever and the lever 52. The movable orslidable relationship of the member 42 with respect to the base may beeifected in any suitable manner in order to permit adjustment of thelink 61 and its slide blocks 68 and 63 to the right and left of thelimiting positions imposed by the length of the lever 52. Such movementof the member 42 may require flexure or adjustment of the tubes 30 and4U.

In the adaptation of the invention, I have found it expedient to usesome indicator which properly records any rise and fall of the bulb I1when the instrumentality as an entirety 1s properly calibrated for theparticular gravity of liquid under test. To this end, I lndicate at achart of the usual type which is clock operated and over the face ofwhich is adapted for movement a pen arm 1I.V One end of the pen Also, itmay be desired that the said device operate other instrumentalities inaccordance with movement of the bulb I1 and I have roughly indicatedsuitable means, which includes an arm 12, one end of which is keyed tothe shaft 6U, and the opposite end of which is provided with valve discs13. A bracket 14 supports a block 15 provided with ports 16 and 11, endsof the ports opening outwardly of the block in the zone of the spacedvalve discs 13. Dependent upon movement of the arm 12, one or the otherof the ports will be open to the atmosphere. Suitable tubes 18 and 19communicate with the block and with the ports 16 and 11. If compressedair is not used for the medium for moving certain other apparatus,dependent upon movement of the lever arm 12, I may provide theelectrical switch means shown at 80, wherein a pair of spaced contactsBI and 82 are carried on an insulation block 83. The arm 12 carries amember 84 which may be brought into engagement with one.or the other ofthe contacts, depending upon direction of rotation of the arm 12.Electrical connections are made with the contacts and with the member84,

The operation, uses and advantages of the gravitometer just describedare as follows:

Referring to Figure 1, it is necessary that the bulb I1 adapted toreceive the liquid, the specific gravity of which is to be recorded,should be of a size so that a suflicient quantity of liquid may bereceived therein to give a deiiecting force, which is measurable on thechart 18 when the pen arm 1I moves thereover.v The gravitometer isadapted to operate with a moving fluid. In other words, suitableconnection is made with the connectors 31 which'join the pipes or tubes30 and 3|, whereby the continuously moving sample will move through thetube 3| into the bulb I1 and substantially fill the same. This liquidwill flow into the tube 20, as indicated by the arrow, thence ll thespace 2I through tubes 32, 40 into the casing 4I within which ispositioned a thermostat, out of said casing into tube 30. The directionof flow is indicated by the arrows. Some standard is utilized for theliquid, which as I have before stated, may be 60 F. At 60 F., theapparatus is so adjusted that the minimum density of a liquid at thistemperature will not produce any deflection of the beam 1. Thus, inCalibrating the instrument, I calibrate it for the specic gravity of theliquid under test at a given temperature. By way of example, I move thecounterbalance weight 23 on the counter-balance beam so that the weightof the bulb, its contents and its associated elements are perfectlybalanced and the tubes 3| and 32 are in transverse stress, that is tosay, tend to raise the bulb I1. VThe adjustment of the weight 23 is suchwith relation to the adjustment of the tubes 3| and 32 that when thedensity of the liquid within the bulb is at the minimum point desired asa basis -for the record, the counter-balance weight 23 will just sustainthe bulb in its position with a veryV small initial iiexure of theresilient tubes. If now the density of the liquid owing into and out ofthe tubes should increase, the bulb I1 Yis depressed, thecounter-balance weight 23 offering no resistance to movement of the bulbas the system is in balance, and such resistance as is offered beingthat of the tubes 3| and 32 .Thisdepression of the bulb will cause amovementof the indicating arm 1I to record, by the pen connectedwithsaid arm,

avsuitable line on the face of the chart 10.- This4 movement will be indirect proportion to the change in density of the continuously iiowingsample. If we assume now that the liquid is not at the standard basetemperature at which lits 'gravity is employed in calculation oradjustment of processes, the temperature above or below the standardpoint will cause, through the action of the coil of the thermostaticmetal 50 movement of the lever 52, which movement will act to move thelink 61 and thence act on the intermediate point or zone of the oatinglever 62. For instance, if the temperature increases, the thermostatcoil 50 will rotate the shaft 49 in a clockwise direction to in turnmove the right end of the lever 52 downwardly, which in turn will movethe floating lever in a clockwise direction with respect to shaft 60 orin other words, downwardly, viewing Figure 1. This downward movement ofthe floating lever will produce a movement of the lever 6l and therebythe pointer or recording pen which will adjust it to a position on thechart corresponding to the true density of the liquid sample at thestandard base temperature.

Viewing Figure 1 and the position of the apparatus as shown, if thestandard sample has been calibrated for a certain density, it is evidentthat the link El will not move as the thermostat will maintain the arm52 in a given position, say that illustrated. Hence the density of theflowing sample is all that will aiect the beam 1. The floating leverwill then be held by the link so that any movement of the lever will beabout the connection 68, acting as the fulcrum. Movement of the floatinglever is, of course, accomplished through the medium of the link 64 andits connection between the counter-balance beam and the floating lever.Thus, if the counter-'balance end of the beam rises, that portion oi thefloating lever outward from the fulcrum point, assumed to be the block68, will rise and depress the opposite end of the floating lever whereit has connection, as at 63, with a lever 6I. Movement of the lever 6lwill actuate the pen arm 'il in a clockwise direction. Ii the density ofthe sample should be lighter, the bulb will rise for the reason thatinitially a givensample lls the said bulb, which sample plus the bulband connections have been counter-balanced by the weight 23. Thus, ifthe sample has a lesser specic gravity than that for which it has beenset, the beam will tend to rotate clockwise, and in so doing, will movethe floating lever in a clockwise .direction about its fulcrum pointwith the block 68. This will move the lever 6I in an anti-clockwisedirection relative to shaft 60 and will move the pen arm 'Hanticlockwise. If now the temperature of the sample should vary, saybecome a temperature less than 60 F., the lever 52 would move in ananti-clockwise direction, viewing Figure 1, and move the link 61upwardly and move the floating lever also upwardly, but specifically sothat the floating lever would move in an anti-clockwise directionrelative to its connection 63 with lever 6l. Thus, temperature isautomatically compensated.

In order that there may be no possibility of accumulation of gas in theupper part of the bulb or an abnormally heavy liquid, such as water, inthe lower part of the bulb, it is to be observed that the lower end ofthe induction tube 2l] is placed close to the bottom of the bulb so thatany abnormally heavy liquid which accumulates will be drawn out bymovement of the normal sample through the induction tube to discharge.The ports 22 at the top of the bulb will aspirate therethrough any gasor air contained in the upper part of the bulb through the tube 32 andbe discharged from the instrument.

In order to employ the gravitometer in the control as well as theindicating or recording of specic gravity, electrical contactsillustrated may be positioned so that the arm 12 may bring the portion84 into one or the other of the contact points 82, 83 to actuate,through a relay, or other device, appropriate mechanism within adetermined range or density of the liquid. I may also use thefrictionless type of pilot valve, illustrated in Figures l and 2, whichmay control the opening or closing of compressed air, or other fluid,for the purpose of operating auxiliary apparatus to control the specicgravity of the liquid. Various controls will readily suggest themselvesto those familiar with the art to which this apparatus appertains.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the tubes 3| and 32 areformed of spring-like material and act as a spring-balance for the bulbafter the bulb and associated parts have been balanced through theweight 23 on the beam. This is important for the reason that any changein density of the liquid received in the bulb during its flow willdeilect the tubes. Thus, the device is very sensitive and a minutedeection of the tubes is immediately indicated on the chart 'Ill by apen or other device carried by the arm 1|.

Under certain circumstances, it may be desired that movement of thethermostat produce no deflection in the link 61. This is convenientlyaccomplished by sliding the blocks B3 and 69 along the floating lever 62and the lever 52. The link 61 should at all times be maintained in avertical position. The flow of liquid within and outwardly of the bulbdoes not affect the correct operation of the device as an entirety. Itwill be observed that all dynamic force of moving liquid is absorbedwithin the tubes 3| and 32. This is important. for accuracy of operationof the device and is one of the features of the present invention.

I claim:

l. In a liquid' gravitometer, a pair of resilient tubes, a relativelyiixed support for one end of each of said tubes, and a bulbsecured toand partially supported by the opposite ends of said tubes; one of saidtubes serving to conduct a flowing liquid into the bulb and the other ofsaid tubes providing for the egress of liquid from the bulb; acounter-balance beam cooperating with said tubes for supporting the bulbin every position when iilled with liquid of a selected specificgravity, means for balancing said beam, bulb and its contents andstressing said tubes at said selected specic gravity whereby change inspecic gravity and liquid flowing through said bulb, produces deflectionof said tubes, and means t indicate said deflection.

2. In a liquid gravitometer, a pair of spring tubes, a relatively fixedsupport for one end of each of said tubes, a bulb partially supportedby, secured to and interiorly communicating with said tubes to allow aliquid sample to flow continuously through one tube into said bulb andoutwardly discharge through the other tube, adjustable balance meanscooperating with said tubes to support said bulb in every position, andmeans for recording de'ection of the tubes due to change in specificgravity oi the liquid sample received in said bulb.

3. In a liquid gravitometer, a bulb adapted to receive a liquid,adjustable means for counterbalancing the weight of the bulb and itscontents in every position, a pair of spring tubes leading t0 theinterior of said bulb through which tubes a liquid sample has continuousingress and egress with the bulb, said tubes cooperating with saidcounter-balancing means to support said bulb, and means for recordingdeection of the tubes due to change in specic gravity of liquid sampleflowing through the bulb.

4. In a liquid gravitometer, a oating lever, a bulb suspended forvertical movement adapted to receive a `continuous stream of liquidpassing therethrough, resilient conduits partially supporting said bulband communicating therewith for the passage of said liquid, balancemeans of connection between the floating lever and said bulb whereby achange of density of liquid within the bulb produces movement thereofand of said floating lever and balance means, a thermostat responsive tothe temperature of said liquid, and means of connection between thethermostat and the said floating lever whereby change of temperature ofliquid within the bulb will actuate the thermostat to move the floatinglever, and a recording device secured to the floating lever.

5. In a liquid gravitometen a bulb, an ingress tube and an egress tubefor a sample liquid communicating with the interior of said bulb, saidtubes being resilient for lending support to said bulb, meanscooperating with said tubes for counter-balancing the bulb and theliquid within said bulb, a thermostat within the ilow path of the liquidsample passed through said tubes, a lever adapted to be moved bymovement of said thermostat due to change of temperature of said liquid,a floating lever, a link connection between said oating lever and thecounter-balancing means, a link connection between the thermostat leverand the said floating lever, and a recording pen arm swingingly securedto an end of said oating lever, whereby change of density of liquidowing through said tubes and said bulb acts as one force, andtemperature change producing movement of the thermostat lever acts asthe other force producing movement of said pen arm corrected for actualtemperature of the liquid so that the density recorded is that of theliquid as of the standard base temperature.

6. VIn a liquid gravitometer adapted to indicate the specific gravity ofaliquid as of a standard temperature; a pressure chamber member adaptedto-receive 4thesample liquid, resilient means lending support to saidmember whereby the sample liquid may be conducted inv a continuous flowpath to and from said pressure chamber member, counter-balance mechanismcooperating with said means for supporting the pressure chamber memberwhen filled with the sample liquid, a floating lever, means ofconnection between said lever and the counter-balance mechanism, anindicator pointer shaft, an intermediate connection between the saidshaft and an end of said floating lever, a thermostat included withinthe path of the flowing sample liquid, and means for transmitting motionof the thermostat due to changes of temperature of the liquid to saidiloating lever.

7. In a liquid gravitometer, a bulb, a counterbalance beam for balancingthe weight of the bulb and any content therein, means cooperating withsaid beam in the support of said bulb for conducting a liquid samplewithin said bulb, means for conducting a liquid sample from the bulb, aninduction tube within the bulb and through which the liquid must pass inits ow through the means aforesaid, means cooperating with said tube toremove entrapped air from said bulb, change in speciiic lgravity of theliquid sample shifting the counter-balance beam, and means for recordingmovement of the beam to indicate change in specic gravity of the liquid.

8. In liquid gravitometer construction, a bulb, the interior of whichacts as a pressure chamber for a liquid, fluidconnections for promotingcirculation of fluid through said bulb, an induction tube within thebulb through which the liquid in the bulb must pass in any flowmovement, said induction tube extending to the upper portion of saidbulb, and means defining ports near the up,- per portion of said bulbcooperating with said induction tube for aspirating any gas abovev the.liquid in said bulb resultant upon passage of liquidthrough theinduction tube.

GEORGE S. BINCKLEY

